Ribbon feeding mechanism



Jan. 20, 1970 w. HLADKY 3,490,671

RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS,

Jam. 20, 1970 w. HLADKY 3,

RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 21, 1966 s sheets-sheet s INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 5 United States Patent US. Cl. 226187 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An endless ribbon loop is rotatably supported on flanges of two separate rollers. The innermost and outermost layers of the loop are connected to form a single layer portion which is guided by means of stationary guide elements and driven by a capstan drive.

This application is a continuation of filed Jan. 21, 1966, nOW abandoned.

This invention relates to web storage and feeding and more particularly to a novel storage device or cartridge for storing and continuously feeding and retreiving a band or ribbon coated or impregnated with pigment, ink or other transfer material for cooperation with a transfer printing means, such as for example, a type matrix and a platen or a printer producing symbols or characters by a scanning process.

A typewriter ribbon of the known kind, supplied on a reel, is inconvenient as it must be handled as a loose ribbon when it is mounted on a printer, such as a typewriter, and connected to a take-up reel. Also, to avoid waste the ribbon must be reversed periodically requiring a ribbon reversing mechanism. Known ribbons are, necessarily, of limited length.

One aim of the present invention is to provide a compact self contained ribbon cartridge for cooperation with a printing device which has, among other advantages, the features of large capacity of ribbon length and ease of mounting and removal.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel storage device or cartridge contains the major portion of endless band or ribbon. The cartridge of this invention includes means for transporting a portion of the ribbon to and through an external printing site. The major portion of the ribbon is drawn from and returned to a multilayer storage loop in a novel manner by ribbon g-uiding and propelling means having the important advantages of simplicity, compactness and ease and economy of manufacture. An effective drive means provides ribbon transport by a single readily detachable connection.

One object of the present invention is to provide novel means for storing and continuously feeding and retrieving an endless ribbon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel cartridge capable of storing a relatively great length of ribbon and having self-contained means for transporting the ribbon through a printing site externally of the cartridge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ribbon cartridge having novel means for detachably receiving an external drive member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel ribbon cartridge having means to store one portion of a movable ribbon in a multilayer loop, and to guide and propel another portion to and through a printing site.

Ser. No. 522,205

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in structural detail in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view in perspective of a ribbon cartridge embodying the invention;

FIG. 1A is a partial section showing a modification of the means for storing the ribbon;

FIG. 2 shows the cartridge of FIG. 1 in perspective from the rear;

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing of ribbon travel;

FIG. 5 is a section on line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a section on line 66 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view in plan on line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a cartridge 2 embodying this invention comprises a ribbon housing casing 6 having a substantially flat mechanism supporting wall 11, a peripheral wall 13 and a cover 4. Slots 7 permit the ribbon to move to and return from an external printing site. While the drawings illustrate a rectangular cartridge by way of example, any outline configuration for convenient use in cooperation with a printing device is within the scope of this invention. Also, the vertical position of the cartridge in the drawings is selected solely for the purpose of convenience of illustration.

An endless ribbon 15 is disposed in two portions 17 and 18 which change, continuously or intermittently, as the ribbon is moved to and through a printing site, indicated in FIG. 3 by cooperating printing members 50 and 54 of any kind found in a printing device or mechanism (not shown). The latter will have provisions (not shown) for receiving the disclosed cartridge. The members 50 and 51 and the latter described external rollers 46 and 48 are shown in dot-dash outline as they will be part of any printing machine with which the invention is used.

Referring to FIG. 4, the convolutions of the ribbn portion 18 form a multilayer loop of large storage capacity. The portion 17, during ribbon movement, becomes the outside layer; and the inside layer is drawn off as the portion 17 is propelled and guided by means, to be described in detail later, for transport to and through the printing site. The guide means of this invention substantially prevent lateral wandering of the ribbon, thus insuring tracking. The course of travel and successive changes in the plane of the ribbon are clearly shown in FIG. 4.

Bearing pins 25 and 27 are secured in any suitable manner to the wall 11. A compact reel of ribbon is provided, in effect, for the ribbon portion 18 by spaced reel members or rollers 14 and 16 rotatably carried by bearing pins 25 and 27, respectively. Since ribbon tracking is assured, means for locating the rollers 14 and 16 axially on the bearing pins 25 and 27 with respect to the location of the drive means is unnecessary. However, the pins may be provided with suitable and known means (not shown) to position their respective rollers axially. Each roller has a flange 23 at its end adjacent the wall 11 and an outer flange 21 which serve to maintain the position of the layer edges during handling of the cartridge. Also, the flanges assist in positioning the outer layer as it is formed and moves during cartridge use.

A preferred configuration for the rollers 14 and 16 is shown in FIG. 1A by the roller 14a. Omission of the outer flange 21 facilitates loading of the cartridge 2 during manufacture. When the roller 14a is used in conjunction with a bearing pin of uniform diameter, as shown in the drawing, full freedom of lateral movement is permitted to realize fully the advantage of a lack of any tendency for the ribbon to move from side to side.

The ribbon is propelled by a combination of a capstan or drive roller 8 and a pinch or pressure roller 30. The drive roller 8 rotates in a bearing aperture (not shown) in the wall 11. A concentric polygonal hole 31, shown as square in the illustrative example, is adapted to reecive a drive member 33 having the same outline in cross section as the hole 31. The drive member receives mechanical power from a flexible drive shaft 12. This shaft is or may be connected to a printer mechanism drive gear, motor or the like.

The pressure roller 30 is rotatably carried at the end of an arm 32 swingably mounted on a pivot pin 34 secured to and projecting from the wall 11. A tension spring 36 connected to the arm and anchored to the wall 11 presses the roller 30 against the drive roller with proper pinch effect to insure propulsion of the ribbon The portion 17 of the ribbon is guided by the above mentioned rollers 46 and 48, for example, shown in phantom. A fixed guide roller 20, mounted to the wall 11, guides the ribbon and a tension roller 22, urged by a biasing spring 28, maintains substantially uniform tension in the ribbon. The tension roller is rotatably carried by a swingable arm 24 mounted on a fixed pin 26. The ribbon 15 is guided in its path between the drive roller 8 and the roller 14 by guide posts 38 and 42 and a ribbon guide 40. The guide post 38 is inclined with respect to the axis of the bearing pin 25 to receive the ribbon 15 as it is drawn under tension by the drive roller 8 and pressure roller 30 from the innermost layer of the ribbon 18 over the periphery of the roller 14. The guide post 38 engages the underside of the ribbon, as viewed in FIG. 3, as it is drawn from the innermost layer of the loop 18. The plane of the ribbon contacting surface of the guide 40 is at a right angle to the axis of the bearing pin 25 and is displaced from the plane of the edges of the ribbon portion 18 nearest the wall 11 to guide the ribbon under and clear of the portion 18 to impart a twist of approximately ninety degrees to the ribbon 15 between the roller 14 and the guide 40. The guide post 42 engages the ribbon 15 on the opposite side of the ribbon from the guide post 38.

What I claim is:

1. A ribbon storage cartridge having means for transporting a coated or impregnated ribbon through a printing site comprising a substantially flat wall, a plurality of bearing posts normal to and projecting from said fiat wall, a roller journaled on each bearing post, said rollers being spaced to receive a multilayer loop or ribbon, ribbon drive means comprising a driving roller rotatably mounted in said flat wall and offset from a line joining said bearing posts, a ribbon guide means adjacent one of said bearing posts and projecting from said flat wall and spaced in one direction from a line joining one of said bearing posts and said driving roller and inclined toward said last named lines, a second ribbon guide means having a substantially flat ribbon guiding portion substantially parallel to the plane of said multilayer loop and spaced from said loop toward said flat wall, a third ribbon guide means adjacent said driving roller and projecting from said wall, a stationary guide roller spaced from said bearing posts and said drive roller to receive and guide the ribbon as it is propelled from said drive roller through said printing site, a second guide roller spaced from the line joining one of said bearing posts and said stationary guide roller and adjacent said guide roller, swingable supporting means for said second guide roller, and means resiliently, biasing said swingable means away from said line joining one of said bearing posts and said fixed guide roller.

2. A ribbon cartridge having means for transporting a coated or impregnated ribbon through an external printing site comprising a pair of spaced bearing posts having their axes parallel, a roller journaled on each bearing post, said rollers on said bearing posts adapted to receive a multi-layer loop of ribbon, a taper driving roller offset from a line joining said bearing posts, said driving roller having means to detachably receive an external driving member, a ribbon guide means adjacent one of said bearing posts spaced in one direction from a line joining one of said bearing posts and said driving roller and inclined toward said last named line, a second ribbon guide means having a substantially flat ribbon guiding portion substantially parallel to the plane of one of the edges of said loop and spaced from said plane, a third ribbon guide means adjacent driving roller, a pressure roller, and means biasing said pressure roller into ribbon driving contact with said drive roller.

3. A ribbon storage cartridge having means for transporting a coated or impregnated ribbon through an external printing site comprising a casing having a substantially flat Wall and a peripheral wall extending from said fiat wall at a right angle thereto, a plurality of hearing posts normal to and projecting from said flat wall, a roller rotatably received on each bearing post, each of said rollers having a flange adjacent said wall, said rollers being spaced to receive a multi-layer loop of ribbon, a ribbon driving roller rotatably mounted in said flat wall and offset from a line joining said bearing posts, said ribbon driving roller having means to detachably receive an external driving member, a ribbon guide means adjacent one of said bearing posts and projecting from said fiat wall and spaced in a direction from a line joining one of said bearing posts and said driving roller and inclined toward said last named line, a second ribbon guide means having a substantially flat ribbon guiding portion substantially parallel to the plane of said flanges and spaced from said flanges toward said flat wall, a third ribbon guide means adjacent said driving roller and projecting from said wall, a pressure roller, resilient means biasing said pressure roller toward said drive roller, a stationary guide roller spaced from said bearing posts and said drive roller to receive and guide the ribbon as it is propelled from said drive roller through said printing site, a second guide roller spaced from the line joining one of said bearing posts and said stationary guide roller, and adjacent said guide roller, swingable supporting means for said second guide roller, and means resiliently biasing said swingable means away from said line jonining one of said bearing posts and said fixed guide roller.

4. Storage means for a ribbon in the form of multilayer storage loop having the innermost and outermost layers connected to form a single layer portion of said loop, comprising separate ribbon support means spacing the inner periphery of the multi-layer loop and rotatably supporting the latter, driving means engaging said single layer portion at a location spaced from said multi-layer loop to draw said ribbon from said innermost layer, stationary guide means adapted to incline said single layer portion in the region between said innermost layer and said driving means, said stationary guide means comprising two pin elements, each of said pin elements being I in contact with a different surface of said ribbon, and means for returning said ribbon to the outermost layer of said storage loop.

5. The ribbon storage means of claim 4 in which said means for returning said ribbon to the outermost layer of said storage loop includes a stationary guide roller spaced from said storage loop and a resiliently carried guide roller engaging said ribbon between said storage loop and said stationary guide roller to place said ribbon under tension.

6. The ribbon storage means of claim 4 wherein said driving means comprises a driving roller and a pressure roller, and means to resiliently bias said pressure roller toward said driving roller whereby to drive said ribbon engaged between said rollers.

7. Ribbon storage means of claim 4 in which said stationary guide means includes first stationary guide means arranged within said inner periphery and inclined to the side of said loop from which the single-layer por- 5 6 tion is drawn for imparting a partial twist to Said ribbon, 3,217,997 11/ 1965 Lundgren. second stationary guide means between said first guide 3,240,441 3/ 1966 Hunter.

means and said driving means to impart substantially a ninety degree twist to said ribbon whereby the latter HENSON WOOD, Primary EXaminer lies in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of 5 RICHARD SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner said storage 100p, and thlrd stationary guide means between said second guide means and said drive means to CL partially twist said ribbon.

226-189, 195, 197; 242-5519 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,913,192 11/1959 Mullin. 3,088,687 5/1963 Martin. 

